Keever E. Swenka

Keever E. Swenka

Solon

Keever E. Swenka, 78, of rural Solon, passed away at the Solon Nursing Care Center on Thursday, Jan. 26, 2023. The funeral Mass will be held at 11 a.m. Tuesday at St. Mary’s Catholic Church, Solon, by Father Charles Fladung. Burial will be in Sulek Cemetery, near Shueyville. Visitation will be from 4 to 7 p.m. Monday at Papich-Kuba Funeral Home East, 1228 Second St. SE, Cedar Rapids, and after 10:30 a.m. Tuesday at the church.

Keever is survived by his wife of 57 years, Gloria; children, Amber (Richard) Wesely of Cedar Bluffs, Neb., Paul (Cindy) Swenka of Robins and Audra (Keith) Nearad of Swisher; grandchildren, Joseph Nearad, Jenna (Austin) White and Samuel Wesely; siblings, Ardis (David) Sevcik of Frisco, Texas, Becky (Robert) Kaefring of Martelle, Carol (Jim Pearson) Swartz of North Liberty and Charles Swenka of Amana; sister-in-law, Linda Swenka of Morse; and numerous nieces and nephews.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Edward and Mary (Klima) Swenka; and brothers, Dennis and Glenn.

Keever was born May 25, 1944, in Cedar Rapids, and was a lifelong resident of this area. He was a 1962 graduate of Oxford High School. Keever married Gloria Patten on June 5, 1965, at Immaculate Conception Catholic Church, Cedar Rapids. Keever was employed by Northwestern Bell Telephone Company (later Century Link) for 45 years until his retirement. He and Gloria moved from Cedar Rapids to their farm home in 1986 and started a cow/calf operation in the early 1990s which they maintained for almost 30 years. Keever was a member of Saint Mary’s Catholic Church. He was also a longtime member of the Johnson County Cattlemen’s Association, CWA, ARA and Lodge Cedar Rapids 262 WFLA.

A memorial fund has been established and donations may be directed to the family.